Portable secretary.



1%. 645,085. Patented Mar. l3 i900.

' c. aoonwm.

PORTABLE SECRETARY.

(Application filed June 2, 1899.) '(No Model.) 2 S'haets$heet I.

ym'gneyyey; Q 7 -85 9%7Kfw I Patented Mar. l3, I900.

2 t a a h S s t e a h s 2 vj Rm Hm "E l WC D 0 m G m n cAm m, u. 0A J M d o M o N 0 n Aw v .llllf I'l II II Illl Il II] I Illallllll UNlTE 'rarns CALEB GOODVIN, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE SECRETARY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,08 5, dated March 13,1900.

Application filed'June 2, 1899. Serial No. 719,070; (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALEB Goonwm, a citizen of the United States, residing in Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented anewand useful Portable Secretary, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in writing-desks or secretaries; and the objects of my invention are to provide a secretary which shall not be greater in size than an ordinary sample-case, which being very light can be easily carried by a handle secured to its upper end, and which can beset up,opened, and used anywhere. I attain these objects by the mechanism described below, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved portable secretary. Fig. 2 is a detail section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, the secretary being closed. Fig. 3 is a similar section on line 3 3 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, the secretary being open. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the complete secretary open and ready for use. Fig. 5 is a detail plan section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 illustrates a part of one side of the case, showing one of the grooves 15 15.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is the case, 11 the'door, and 12 the leaf of the secretary.

The case is an open wooden frame having strong canvas 12% stretched upon and secured by any suitable means, as the tacks 12, to the back, top, bottom, and sides of the case. The depth of the case will be usually four inches, but may be made greater or less, as found convenient.

The door is formed of wood and is also covered on its outer side with strong canvas 12:}, secured by the tacks 12'. It is hinged to the case so as to close the same. It is fastened when closed by the lock 13.

The shelf let is secured in the case in the grooves 15 15 near the top of the case.

The leaf is secured by the hinges 16 16 to the lower side of the shelf near its front edge.

A bracket 17 is pivoted to the inner face of each side of the case just below the shelf.

This bracket has the notch 18 in the lower side near its outer end. The bcarin g 19 is se cured on the under side of the leaf at such a point that the bracket passing through it will cause the notch to engage with it, so as to support the leaf at the proper angle for use in writing. This bearing may be of curved wire secured to the leaf by any suitable means.

The bar 20 is secured to the sides of the case so as to form a receptacle for aletter-file or other suitable adjunct of a writing-desk.

The pouch 21 is secured in the door for the purpose of holding paper and envelops.

22 is a receptacle pivoted upon the shelf to hold an ink-bottle, and 23 is a wire spiral se cured upon the shelf to retain a penholder.

24 is the handle, secured upon the upper end of the secretary to be used in carrying the same.

The case and door may be lined with stiff paper,and leather may be used instead of canvas to cover them. The lower edge of the case and door are made flush with each other. Hence, when the door is open until it is about at right angles with the case, the secretary will stand alone, and the leaf being raised and secured in place by the brackets and their bearings one can place a seat before it and write upon it.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is In a portable secretary, the combination of the case, 10, constructed substantially as described, and having the grooves, 15, 15,formed in the sides of the case near its top; the door, 11, hinged to the front edge of one side of the case, its top flush with the lower surface of the top of the case, and its bottom flush with the lower end of the case, so as to make the desk self-supporting when open; the shelf, 14, secured in the grooves, 15, 15 5 the leaf, 1.2, hinged to the lower side of the shelf near its outer edge; and the two adjustable brackets, 17, 17, secured to the case by any suitable, well-known means beneath the leaf, so as to support the same; substantially as and for the purpose specified.

CALEB GOODWIN. Witnesses: v

E. O. CRAWFORD, ELLA 0. HOWE. 

